Grammar · Sentences
Questions and negatives without do
Spanish builds both with no extra machinery.
English needs do and does to ask a question or make a negative. Spanish needs neither. Put no in front of the verb for a negative, and raise your intonation, or add the marks in writing, for a question.
Examples
hablas inglés
you speak English
statement
¿hablas inglés?
do you speak English?
same words, marked by punctuation
no hablas inglés
you do not speak English
no in front of the verb
no, no trabajo hoy
no, I do not work today
two no words is normal, one answers and one negates
Watch out
Trying to translate do. It has no Spanish equivalent in these structures.
Grammar sticks when you use it
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